DILG chief says traffic accidents up 30-40%

LUCENA CITY, Quezon, Philippines—Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno expressed alarm over a sharp increase in the number of traffic accidents in the country, especially in Quezon province.

“There is something wrong here,” he said. Government data showed that the number of accidents, many of them fatal, has increased by 30 to 40 percent, he said.

Puno, during a meeting with transport officials and players here, also ordered the police to strictly enforce speed limits on highways and roads.

“It seems that our highways have now become racetracks for these speed maniacs,” said Puno, who inspected the site of a bus collision in the city that killed at least nine people recently.

Director General Jesus Verzosa, Philippine National Police chief, vowed to add more muscle to the implementation of road safety rules.

Verzosa immediately instructed his men to enforce traffic laws, particularly on national highways.

Chief Superintendent Orlando Mabutas, Highway Patrol Group (HPG) director, said in a briefing that a total of 6,845 accidents had already been recorded across the country from January to July.

Overspeeding caused at least 2,161 cases, followed by bad overtaking with 1,971, and bad turning, 1,732.

From 2007 to July 2009, “human error” was the biggest factor in the accidents, said Mabutas.

The Department of Public Works and Highways urged village officials and the PNP to protect road signs and other safety devices from thieves along the Maharlika Highway.

A top DPWH official blamed the loss of these signs and devices to theft for a series of fatal accidents on the highway.

Ronel Tan, DPWH-Quezon 4th District chief, said the department had been reporting the theft of road signs and safety devices, “but it seems the police, and even the village officials, can’t stop it.”

Thieves have detached steel railings and road signs and sold these to junk shops, Tan said.

Another DPWH official, however, blamed the increase in the number of accidents on Maharlika on reckless drivers.

Bonifacio Seguit, DPWH director in Calabarzon, said the Land Transportation Office should be strict in screening applicants for driving licenses. –Delfin Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon